Totally agree with above.
My only caveat is that one isn’t often in Europe (presumably), so make the most of the opportunity to see as many places as is feasible. That’s why I think a Berlin/other city would be nice.
The weather in Berlin was brutal while we were there, but we still really enjoyed it, especially the historical aspect of it.
Sorry to nerd out. But the “famous” Egyptian bust in the Agyptisches Museum is not of Cleopatra. It is of Nefertiti. B-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertiti#mediaviewer/File:Nofretete_Neues_Museum.jpg
There is a bust that is possibly of Cleopatra in the Altes Museum, but I doubt that this is what you are thinking of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra#mediaviewer/File:Kleopatra-VII.-Altes-Museum-Berlin1.jpg
If you do go to the Neues Museum in Berlin to see the bust of Nefertiti, make sure you also see the “Golden Hat” in the same museum. It is (to my mind) just as amazing, and unlike Nefertiti, you can take pictures of it.
Note: the Pergamon Museum is under reconstruction, so parts of it aren’t accessible (right now, you can’t see the Pergamon Altar), but what is still accessible is amazing. Berlin also has a very fine art museum (the Gemaldgalerie) and an interesting Jewish Museum.
^^ The Pergamon closing (til 2019?!) is killing me. I will be in Berlin in 4 weeks and I only recently realized that it is still closed off to the public. aaaaaaaaaaaaargh
Well, the Ishtar Gate is still accessible–and we were astonished when we went upstairs to see the Islamic art (we almost didn’t)–it’s really quite awesome.
Have you decided? Vienna is beautiful (especially if you are museum goers) but hard to penetrate. I felt like life happened on the inside behind closed doors and people were cold. I speak German a bit too. I would choose Berlin or Lisbon. I’ve never been to Lisbon but it sounds warm right now.
Oh yeah . I still plan on seeing the Islamic art since it’s one of my areas of expertise. But for some reason, in the last 30 years and two trips to Berlin, I’ve been stymied by closures that have kept my away from the Pergamon altarpiece. I’ll live, but aaaaaaaaaaargh.
On the two occasions I’ve been to Berlin, I don’t think I encountered anyone who didn’t speak English. That wasn’t th case in Vienna, although I was there longer ago.
But I like Vienna, too.
I haven’t been to Berlin since 1988, and want to see what it looks like now. I have to admit the thrill of going behind the Iron Curtain when I went across Checkpoint Charlie. As a history buff, Berlin has so much to offer.
I haven’t been since there was an East Berlin. West Berlin in those days was a fascinating, unique & exotic place, even for someone like me, whose family suffered under the Nazis and for whom the very word “Berlin” brought an instant feeling of dread and evil. I wonder to what extent that uniqueness still exists.
I have been to Berlin 4 times and still haven’t seen everything. It is a great fun city to visit. My daughter really loved the checkpoint charlie museum, there is also a great nice zoo. For a trip with middle schoolers I would recommend it.
Having been through Checkpoint Charlie in 1977 with a kind of scary experience (kid on our bus took a photo out the window, guards with machine guns got on and took the film out of his camera), I love that there is now a “Checkpoint Charlie” museum. 
How right u are! By the time I realized I had typed the wrong lady, it was too late to edit. Can’t slip anything past this crowd… 
OH WELL…what’s 1300 years between friends. ;))
We particularly liked the Museum of the Murdered Jews of Europe. Very interesting, very sobering.
There is also a Museum of Berlin that is in the back of a kind of kitschy souvenir shop. That was pretty fun as well. We went to several art museums. One that we walked a fair distance to get to was closed for renovation. I don’t remember the name, but it was right next to another museum of modern art.
There is even a museum of musical instruments.
We went to some great restaurants!
The people of Helsinki are fascinating. You will notice the difference between Scandinavia and Continental Europe if you choose to visit this city.
You will notice it more in Stockholm… The Swedes are tall and blonde and easy on the eyes. I was in Helsinki for a week before I saw a man taller than I am (at 5’9").
This thread is getting me excited for our Prague and then Nuremburg to Vienna river cruise (Uniworld- Danube Discovery) in June. Next year, we are doing an Ocean cruise on the Viking Star, their first ocean vessel, which hasn’t had its maiden voyage yet. It includes Helsinki as well as Bergen, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Gdansk, and St. Petersburg (Viking- Viking Homelands).
I was in Berlin for business last year and LOVED it. Fascinating city. It has a real feel / vibe to it.
The Jewish Museum is outstanding (regardless of whether or not you are Jewish), as is the museum located right above whether Hitler / the SS used to have headquarters.
I was only there for a long weekend and wish I’d had more time there.
I would also second Vienna along with Berlin. There’s a lot to see in Vienna, but it’s relatively compact.
